Immigration reform group: Red card Rep. McMorris Rodgers

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., a member of the House Republican leadership, is one of seven House GOP members targeted in a new, soccer-themed series of Spanish language radio ads put on the air by a pro-immigration group.

House Speaker John Boehner and Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, R-Washington. The House has refused to act on immigration reform. A pro-reform group is running soccer-themes radio spots, saying McMorris Rodgers deserves a red card.

A group called the Alliance for Citizenship is running the ads: Its two most visible targets are Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, incoming House majority leader, and McMorris Rodgers, who chairs the House Republican Conference.

Washington has more than 755,000 Hispanic residents, accounting for about 11.3 percent of the Evergreen State’s population. About 45.5 percent are foreign born.

McMorris Rodgers represents the 5th District in Eastern Washington, centered in Spokane. The district includes only one of the state’s major Hispanic population centers — Walla Walla County. She has paid scant attention to past immigration protests.

Still, especially if you watched the World Cup on Univision, words from the Alliance for Citizenship ad will resonate:

“Congress nearly scored a high goal for immigration reform : 11 million immigrants would have been able to live without fear in America. We would’ve avoided more tragedies at the border and it would’ve been a great victory for justice and freedom.

“Reform was coming and coming, passing through the Senate. The field was open for a free kick. But NO. Once it turned to the House, the anti-immigration team and its leader, John Boehner, tackled reform maliciously, leaving our community knocked out on the field.

“Penalty!! Penalty!! This was foul play and it deserves a red card. Rep. McMorris Rodger is a part of the anti-immigration team and deserves a red card. They played us dirty.”

The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform plan a year ago. The House Republican leadership has refused to put it to a vote in Congress’ lower chamber.

McMorris Rodgers has taken some fire in her home state, but has moved lock-step with fellow Republican House leaders.

The Seattle Times took her to task for failing to actively support renewal of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, on which Boeing depends for foreign jet sales.

New York Times pundit Timothy Egan, a Spokane native, has gone after McMorris Rodgers on the Affordable Care Act and other issues. McMorris Rodgers has opposed such measures as a higher minimum wage and extension of unemployment benefits, although a higher percentage of her constituents are without work than in any other Washington district.

But McMorris Rodgers has enjoyed just one semi-tough reelection race, in 2006 when she was challenged by Okanogan County rancher Peter Goldmark. Goldmark is now state land commissioner.